Fire-lighter.



No; 669,53I. Patented Mar. [2, 190i. J. M. L-EEK.

FIRE LIGHTER. (Applicafiou ied Nov. 5, 1897. Renewed July 21, 1900.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

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n4: mums PETERS no PnuTo-uma, WASHINGTON. 0 cv Nu. 669,53I. PatentedMar. 12. 1901. J. m. LEEK.

FIRE LIGHTER.

(Application filed Nov. 5, 1897. Renewed July 21, 1900.) (No Model.) 2Sheets-Shaet 2.

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UNITED STATES PATENT JOHN M. LEEK, OF KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE.

FIRE-LIGHTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 669,531, dated March12, 1901.

Application filed November 5, 1897. Renewed July 21, 1900. serial lilo.24,461. (No model.)

T0 at whorm it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN M. LEEK, a citizen of the United States,residing at Knoxville, in the county of Knox and State of Tennessee,have invented a new and useful Firelflfiighter, of which the followingis a specifica- My invention relates to improvements in automaticdevices for igniting fires; and one object that I have in view is toprovide a simple contrivance by which a fire may be ignited at anypredetermined time, so that a housewife or other person is not requiredto arise early in the morning and enter a cold kitchen or room for thepurpose of starting the fire.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved ignitiondevice which may be used in connection with any ordinary cook stove orstoves and grates generally; and a further object is to provide meansadapted for use in connection with an alarm mechanism of a time-clockadapted to be adjusted to be set in operation at any desired hour.

To the accomplishment of these ends the invention consists in thecombination of a shaft carrying an abrasive surface, a spring adapted tobe put under tension by adjusting the shaft, a detent mechanism forrestraining the shaft from movement under the energy of the spring, atime mechanism for re leasing the detent mechanism from engagement withthe shaft, a match-holding appliance adjacent to the abrasive surface ofthe shaft, and a wick-carrier arranged in operative relation to thematch-holder, so as to sustain a wick in position to be ignited when thematches are lighted by the movement of the abrasive surface on theshaft; and the invention further consists in the novel combination ofelements and in the construction and arrangement of parts, which will behereinafter fully described and claimed.

To enable others to understand my invention, I have illustrated thepreferred embodiment thereof in the accompanying drawings, forminga partof this specification, and in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of myimproved fire-igniting device, showingit applied to the apron of anordinary cook-stove, the latter being indicated by dotted lines. Fig.

2 is aplan view of the igniter device removed from the stove and showingthe cover of the casing thrown open to expose the interior of thecasing. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the igniter device. Fig. 4 is anend elevation.

Like numerals of reference denote corresponding parts in all the figuresof the drawings.

My ingniter device consists of a casing 1, a shaft 2, journaled in thecasing, aspring 3, a detent mechanism 4, an abrasive surface 5 on theshaft, a match-holder 6, and a wickcarrier 7. These parts are allarranged and combined in operative relation to each other substantiallyas shown by the drawings, and Iwill now proceed to describe the detailedconstruction and arrangement of said elements.

The casing 1 is preferably of oblong shape, although this is notessential, and said casing is provided with a hinged cover 8 and with anextension 9 at one end. This extension is in the plane of the bottom ofthe casing, and on the extension and to one end of the casing is affixeda guard 10. This guard is preferably of wire bent to segmental form andattached to the casing and its extension by soldering or other suitablefastenings, and said guard is adapted to embrace a time mechanism whichrests on the extension 9. This time mechanism is shown in theaccompanying drawings as an alarm-clock of a well-known variety, whichis adapted to be used in connection with an apparatus constructed inaccordance with my invention; but it is not strictly necessary to use atime mechanism of this character, because it will be apparent that thecasing may be constructed to embody a time mechanism as an integral partof the apparatus. I prefer, however, to employ a time mechanism, becausesuch devices are in common use and because of the ready removability ofthe mechanism from the guard for the purpose of winding up the springsof such mechanism or of setting or adjusting the time-train and thealarm-train. The time mechanism is indicated in a general way by thenumeral 11, and it is equipped with a key 12 for the purpose of windingthe alarm of such time mechanism.

The shaft 2 is arranged longitudinally within the casing 1, and it isjournaled in suitable bearings provided in the end walls of the casingor in bearings which may be attached to the casing. One end of thisrevoluble shaft is extended through one end wall of the casing, and toits protruding end is affixed a roller or disk 12, which is coated orcovered with an abrasive material 5. I prefer to employ a roller orpulley of larger diameter than the shaft 2, and the abrasive 5 may beapplied to this roller or pulley in any suitable wayas, for instance, byfastening a strip of abrasive-coated fabric to the periphery of suchroller or disk. Again, the roller may be a solid piece of emery or otherabrasive material to afford a friction-surface for the ignition of thematches carried by the holder 6. The protruding end of the shaft 2 isequipped with a means by which the shaft may be conveniently rotated by.hand, and in the embodimentof the invention shown by the drawings theshaft-rotating device consists of a crank 13, which protrudes beyond theroller or pulley with the abrasive surface, so that it may be reachedconveniently for winding the shaft by hand. The shaft is placed undertension by the employment of a coiled spring 3, which is shown as fittedaround the shaft to be held in place thereby. One end of the spring isattached to the shaft, while its other end is fastened to one of thewalls of the casing 1, and said spring is thus honsedwithin the casingto be protected thereby from accumulations of dust, &c. The shaft isprevented from turning under the influence of the spring by the detentmechanism, (indicated generally by the nu-' meral 4,) and this detentmechanism consists of a ratchet 14 and a pawl 15. The ratchet isfastened to the shaft 2, near one end of the casing, and the pawl hasastraight length 15*, which is pivoted in the casing. This pawl is made,preferably, from a length of Wire which is bent to substantially theform shown by Fig. 2, and said pawl has a protruding arm 15, whichpasses through a slot or opening in the end wall of the casing adjacentto the time mechanism. This protruding arm 15 of the pawl is free torest by gravity upon the key 12 of the alarm of the time mechanism 11,and said pawl is adapted to be lifted by the key 12 when it is rotatedby the operation of the alarm-train of the time mechanism, whereby thepawl is freed from the ratchet, and the latter thus rotates with theshaft under the recoilaction of the spring 3. The match-holder 6 isshown in the accompanying drawings in the form of a clamp adapted tograsp and hold one, two, or more friction-matches which are to bepresented to the abrasive surface 5, so as to be in con,- tacttherewith. This matchholder in one embodiment of the invention has abase 16, a movable jaw 17, mounted on the base and controlled by aspring, or a spring 18 may be used as a means for attaching the movablejaw to the base 16 of the holder, as shown by Fig. 4; but this preciseconstruction of the match-holder may be varied by a skilled mechanic.

The wick-carrier 7 is made by bending a stout piece of wire or a rod ofmetal, and said wick-carrier is constructed to serve as a means forholding the wick and for supporting the match-holder in proper relationto the rotary abrasive surface 5. As shown in the drawings, the metallicrod or wire is bent to form an arm 19, having a pintle 20 at itsextremity, then bent or deflected laterally, as

at 21, then carried upward to form the short standard 22, then doubledupon itself to form the inclined seat 23 for the attachment of the matchholder or clamp thereto, and then finally bent into a series of loopswhich constitute the wick-holder proper. The rod has its arm 19 fittedagainst the rear side of the casing for the pintle 20 to enter a socket24 on the casing, and said arm of the rod is engaged by a clasp 25,which is attached to the casing and which serves to reinovably hold therod on the casing. The base of the matchholder or clamp 6 is fastened tothe seat 23 0f the rod in any appropriate manner, and by reason of theinclination of the seat 23 of said rod the match-holder is presented atthe proper angle to the rotary abrasive surface for the matches held bythe holder to rest upon the abrasive surface. The wick-carrier properextends upwardly and rearwardly from the match-holder in agenerallyinclined.

direction, so that the wick-carrier will present the wick to the stove.The wick 26, which I prefer to use, is made, preferably, of asbestos orother analogous material, and it is fitted loosely in the loops of thewick-carrier. This wick may be saturated with any suitable inflammablesubstance.

The lower part of the wick is carried over the match-holder to lieadjacent to the matches, and this part of the wick is confined in a fork27, which is attached to the match-holder.

This being the construction of my fire-igniter, the operation may bedescribed, briefly, as follows: The crank is rotated by hand to turn theshaft and put the spring 3 under tension, the ratchet turning with theshaft and the pawl slipping idly over the ratchet,so as to engage withthe teeth thereof and hold the shaft'from rotation when the operatorceases to turn the crank. The time mechanism is now wound, its alarmmechanism adj ustedto be started in operation at a predetermined time,and the time mechanism is placed on the extension and in the guard'inposition for the free arm of the detent to rest upon the key 12 of thetime mechanism. The match or matches are now placed in the match-holderto have the friction igniting material or head in contact with theabrasive surface 5, and the wick is placed in the carrier with its lowerextremity adjacent to the matches. The entire apparatus may now beplaced on the apron of a stove,

as represented by Fig. 1, and the remote end of the wick may be passedthrough one of the draft-openings in the door of the stove, thusobviating the necessity for opening the draftdoor of the stove. When thealarm of the time mechanism is set in operation at the time previouslydetermined upon, the key 12 is rotated to lift the arm of the pawl, thusraising the latter from the ratchet and allowing the spring to turn theshaft, which actuates the abrasive pulley or roller to ignite thematches. As the Wick is adjacent to the lighted matches, the wick is inturn ignited and the flame is applied to the kindling in the stove,thereby starting the fire.

From the foregoing description it will be evident that I have providedan automatic ignition device which is readily operated and adjusted tostart or kindle at any predetermined time a fire in a stove. While theapparatus is shown as adapted for use in connection with a cook-stove,it will be evident that it may be used to advantage in starting fires inother kinds of stoves, grates, (X 50. The apparatus is readily portable,so that it may be removed and stored away when not in use, and it issimple and durable in construction and cheap of manufacture.

I am aware that changes in the form and proportion of parts and in thedetails of construction of the devices herein shown and described as thepreferred embodiment of the invention may be made without departing fromthe spirit or sacrificing the advantages of the invention, as, forexample, the form of the wick carrier or support may be changed from alooped-wire support to a tubular support when the device is to be placedat some distance from the stove; but the arrangement of thewick-support, whether tubular or the looped-wire construction shown,with relation to the match-holder and to the airopenings in thestove-door is the same in both forms of the wick-support. As thewickholder is of any suitable tubular form, I have not deemed itnecessary to illustrate the sam e. Having thus fully described myinvention,

what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a fire-lighter, the combination with a casing, anda'spring-controlled shaft carrying an abrasive surface, of a detentpivoted to said casing and having a protruding extremity and a bent armbetween its pivot and said protruding extremity which is adapted to restupon a movable element of a timetrain, a ratchet mounted on the shaftfor engagement by said bent arm of the detent, a match-holder inoperative relation to said abrasive surface, and a wick-carrier extendedfrom said match-holder, substantially as described.

2. In an automatic fire-igniter, a supporting arm or rod provided at oneend with a series of loops forming a wick-carrier and with an inclinedseat, combined with a rotatable abrasive surface, a match-holder clampattached to the seat of said arm or rod, a fork supported by thematchholder clamp and arranged to retain a wick adjacent to the matchesin said .clamp, and mechanism for operating the abrasive surface,substantially as described.

3. In a fire-kindler, a wick-carrier provided with an extended supporting-arm,the inclined seat, 23, and the wick-loops which areinclined upwardly and rearwardly beyond said seat,23, and a match-holderor clamp supported on the inclined seat, 23, below the loops of saidwickcarrier, in combination with a casing to which the supporting-arm ofsaid wick-carrier is attached, a spring-con trolled shaft journaled inthe casing and having an abrasive roller in operative relation to thematch-holder or clamp, and a detent mechanism for restraining the shaftagainst rotation by its spring, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN M. LEEK.

Witnesses:

H. L. BRANDON, T. H. MCDANIEL.

